sib3x08 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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10 EXT. OPEN AIR STAGE - DAY 10
Syren is suddenly dressed very differently - flowers in her
hair, the ball gown replaced by a loose-fitting tie-dye dress
and the makeup stripped right down.
She's standing on a small stage set up in the middle of a
field - a low-key open-air festival - playing to a small
crowd of HIPPIES, all nodding to the beat.
A small backing group strum out a mournful melody as Syren
begins to croon:
SYREN
(sings)
I can't believe you've left me,
Don't know that you've upset me,
You just want to forget me,
Why don't you come and get me...
The music rises again as she hits the chorus:
SYREN (cont'd)
(sings)
Where are you, baby, we used to
have so much fun,
You drive me crazy, somebody tell
me where he's gone,
Where are you, baby, we used to
have so much fun,
You drive me crazy...
She steps away from the mic stand, letting the band continue
to play as the crowd throw some APPLAUSE her way, but Syren's
attention is drawn elsewhere.
She tilts her head and turns to look out over the fields, the
setting sun highlighting a lone FIGURE standing on a hilltop
overlooking the stage.
Syren seems to be able to sense that someone's there, quietly
slipping off the stage as the band play on.
11 EXT. FIELDS - NEXT 11
Walking out across the grounds, pushing through waist-high
grass, she heads straight for the hillside where the figure
is still waiting.
She leaves the patch of tall grass, her bare feet crunching
across the ground as she starts to climb the hill, her pale
eyes fixed on the mystery person.
Silhouetted by the sun, the person's features can't be seen,
but their shoulder-length hair blows gently in the breeze.
SYREN
Who's there? Who's watching me?
Silence. Syren slowly comes to a stop.
SYREN (cont'd)
Chris? Chris, is that you?
No answer - and then there's a sudden RUMBLE of thunder from
overhead, and in an instant the fields are pelted with RAIN.
Syren shivers as thick rain falls all around her, hugging
herself with her arms as she looks up to the stormy sky.
We follow her gaze up into the suddenly grey and stormy
skies, before we pan back down and into:
12 EXT. VICTORIAN LONDON - NIGHT 12
Sherlock Norton and Miss Naomi Vyra hurry along a cobbled
city street, passing a horse and carriage as they seek
shelter underneath a small bridge.
DANYAEL
The weather in our fair nation's
capital never fails to amaze me.
NAOMI
It never fails to make me rather
miserable, Mr. Norton.
DANYAEL
(grins)
It's all in one's perception, Miss
Vyra. For a city as densely
populated and heavily polluted as
London, the very fact that nature
makes it presence felt at all is a
source of constant wonder to me.
Naomi shivers and draws her jacket tighter, clearly not
sharing in Danyael's sense of awe.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
My colleague Syren should be here
any moment, and then we can
continue to our destination.
SYREN (O.S.)
Sorry I'm late...
They look up as Syren hurries to shelter with them under the
bridge - she's sporting a bowler hat and a heavy raincoat.
SYREN (cont'd)
Got caught in the rain myself,
Norton. Had to take a detour all
round the blessed wrekin to get
here.
DANYAEL
Never mind, never mind. Doctor W.
Syren, allow me to introduce our
newest client, Miss Naomi Vyra.
The girls shake hands, Naomi noticing Syren's blindness.
NAOMI
Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise
you were-
SYREN
Blind? Yes, well - you can blame my
time in the Army for that one.
Malfunctioning mortar shell.
NAOMI
Were you a soldier?
SYREN
Medic. I've turned my hand to
forensics and science since then,
thanks to my companionship with
Norton here.
DANYAEL
Yes, yes, we can get to all that
later. Come, Syren! The game is
afoot.
Danyael leads the way, the two girls following as they round
a corner, disappearing down another alley before a loud CRACK
of thunder pushes us to:
13 EXT. FORT - NIGHT 13
And that same crack of thunder becomes the BOOM of a terrific
explosion, knocking Diego off his feet and sending him
rolling down one of the ramps leading from the walls.
SHOUTS and GUNFIRE rattle out from all around, and as the
wincing Diego picks himself up, he looks around to see the
fortress is in chaos:
The walls have been breached, huge HOLES blasted through
them, and waves of MEXICAN SOLDIERS are pouring through those
breaches, launching into vicious hand-to-hand combat with the
massively outnumbered defenders.
Scrambling to recover his sword, he regains his balance just
as a Mexican soldier CHARGES him bayonet-first, Diego turning
and SKEWERING the soldier.
Pushing the man off his blade, Diego turns and is faced by
two more, but his lightning-fast moves cut down both invaders
in moments.
Diego looks around - his beleaguered troops are losing and
losing fast, getting cut down where they stand, but a cry for
help spins him round to see:
Twist, battling with no less than four soldiers, holding them
off by swinging her rifle at them like a baseball bat.
DIEGO
McFadden!
He starts to rush over to her, finding his way blocked at
every turn by fallen soldiers, live ones out for his blood
and DEBRIS hurled his way by more EXPLOSIONS.
Twist is getting pushed back with each swing, visibly growing
tired - she doesn't have long unless somebody saves her!
DIEGO (cont'd)
McFadden, hold on!
She looks up and sees him, but he's still too far away to
help, and as she desperately tries to hold off the attackers
with another clumsy swing, she doesn't see a fifth charge in
from behind...
DIEGO (cont'd)
Look out!!
She spins round, seeing the inbound soldier at last as we
SMASH CUT to:
14 EXT. PIRATE SHIP - DAY 14
And the same expression of horror is etched on Twist's face
as the sound of booming CANNON FIRE rings out.
She DUCKS as something SMASHES into the ship above her head,
showering her with splinters, before she tumbles down the
steps and onto the main deck.
The huge, looming shape of a NAVY MAN O'WAR fills the sky,
bearing down on the galleon and currently blasting the holy
hell out of it with concentrated cannon fire.
All over the deck, the pirates are engaged in a fierce
struggle with invading NAVY SOLDIERS, the better-equipped
swordsmen of the Navy more than a match for the pirates.
TWIST
Stand fast! Repel all boarders! Mr.
Wylde! Cut those mooring lines and
get us away from that thing!
CREWMAN
Aye, cap'n!
More soldiers SWING across onto the galleon's deck, and as
another CANNONBALL blows a hole right through the mast,
sending it TUMBLING to CRASH across the midsection of the
ship, Twist finally spots Diego.
TWIST
Don't just stand there, get to it!
Diego turns to meet her gaze - and then takes a step back!
TWIST (cont'd)
What the-
Several SOLDIERS suddenly swarm past him, forcing Twist to
draw her cutlass and defend herself, and she realises which
side First Mate Diego is on at last.
TWIST (cont'd)
(snarling)
You... you wretched traitor!
With a CRY of anger she THROWS her attackers to the ground,
marching her way towards Diego and SLICING through anybody
foolish enough to get in her way.
Diego stays where he is, coolly regarding her as she cuts
down soldier after soldier to reach him.
TWIST (cont'd)
I'll make a throw rug out of your
hide, you good for nothing-
Diego smoothly steps to the side - and reveals a GAP in the
galleon's railings!
Twist has too much momentum to stop, pitching headfirst over
the side of the ship with a YELL!
Diego turns and looks over the edge of the deck - and there's
Twist, hanging for dear life onto a PLANK, with SHARKS
circling in the water below!
She boggles at the fate waiting for her in the sea below -
just as one of her CREW sails past her with a SHRIEK,
splashing to a watery grave.
She looks up - and Diego has gone. Twist tries to pull
herself up onto the deck again, but the plank she's clinging
to CRACKS, starting to BEND and break in two!
TWIST (cont'd)
Oh, come on!
Looking around for any way out of this, Twist finds herself
looking straight into a cabin of the man o'war:
And sitting on a chair within the luxurious quarters is
JULIE, dressed in full fifteenth century finery.
TWIST (cont'd)
(frowns)
Julie? What's...
(penny drops)
Wait a minute...
Julie turns and sees Twist, and a beat of recognition flashes
between them before we MATCH CUT to:
15 INT. DARK ROOM - NIGHT 15
Julie sits before us, now in a long, flowing white dress that
spills onto the floor from the wizened old chair in which she
sits.
Her hair is also long, as though she's left it to grow for
several years, and the fine layer of DUST and COBWEBS over
everything suggests she hasn't moved from this spot for a
very, very long time.
The room around her appears to be a master bedroom of sorts,
although it's shrouded in inky darkness, the only features
being a window covered by pale curtains, billowing in some
breeze, and several sturdy DOORS.
As Julie slowly tilts her head toward each door, different
SOUNDS can be heard from the other side, muffled and
indistinct:
The CLOP-CLOP of horses and calls of Victorian London; the
jazzy show tunes of the musical; the mayhem and shouts of the
pirate ship; more battle sounds from the fortress; and the
sounds from the festival.
Something stirs in the air overhead, and Julie manages to
lift her head a fraction, looking up to see:
The BLUE HAZE OF LIGHT is back, this time almost resembling a
VULTURE as it circles her, accompanied by WHISPERING VOICES
in dozens of languages.
Julie closes her eyes, a TEAR rolling down her cheek as she
lowers her head again, and as the breeze flowing through the
room picks up, there's a SWOOSH of sound as we cut to:
16 EXT. FIELDS - DAY 16
Syren is running through the fields as the storm rages all
around her - flashes of LIGHTNING and ominous RUMBLES of
thunder don't seem to be slowing her down.
SYREN
Chris? Chris! Where are you?
She yells into the tumultuous weather around her but nobody's
there to reply - her mystery man is nowhere in sight.
Gathering up her dress so she can run more easily, Syren
hustles onward, mud SQUELCHING between her toes as the
rainfall turns the green fields to brown mush.
She reaches the base of a hill and starts to climb it,
slipping and scrambling for grip all the way as she
struggles, breathless with exertion.
She finally makes it to the summit - and the rain stops. In
an instant, brilliant SUNLIGHT streams down all around,
leaving a sodden Syren standing at the crest of the hill.
Before her is a vibrant field of FLOWERS stretching out for
miles, a dazzling array of colours shimmering in the breeze.
Syren closes her eyes and inhales deeply, the wash of scents
refreshing her as she catches her breath. Pausing to try and
wring dry her dress and hair she starts down the hill.
Standing in the middle of the waist-high flowers is the
mystery man, and Syren starts to wade through the field.
He stands with his back to her, facing the sunlight and once
again silhouetted.
SYREN (cont'd)
Chris...
She manages to get right up to the figure, reaching out a
cautious hand to lay on their shoulder, and the man starts to
turn round...
... but it's Danyael. Shirt open, biceps a-rippling in true
Mills & Boon style, his long hair draped round his shoulders
and looking every inch like the archetypal romantic hero.
DANYAEL
Syren... I'm so glad you could make
it at last.
Before she can react to the sound of Danyael's voice,he
quickly embraces her, pulls her close and KISSES her, and as
he leans her backwards a little you'd swear you could hear a
chorus of angels singing in the background.
Syren suddenly breaks the kiss, pushing away from Danyael and
regaining her balance.
SYREN
No! No, this...
DANYAEL
What's wrong? Isn't this what you
want?
SYREN
I... I mean, I do, but... this
isn't...
(closes eyes; deep breath)
You're not who I want.
Danyael straightens, his pride dented, but as Syren slowly
opens her eyes she starts to frown, realising something.
SYREN (cont'd)
None of this is...
As she looks around, the bright colours suddenly seeming two
dimensional and artificial, we cut back to:
17 INT. TOWN HOUSE - NIGHT 17
The front door is thrown open to reveal Sherlock Norton, with
Dr. Syren and Miss Vyra close behind. Norton stands in the
doorway for a beat, eyes scanning the hallway.
NAOMI
Er, Mister Norton? This is my
house. I heard the noises from next
door.
DANYAEL
Yes... yes, you did.
A beat. Naomi looks to Syren, confused, but Syren just shakes
her head - let him do his thing.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Come, Syren!
He dramatically closes the door again, and we cut to:
18 INT. NEXT TOWN HOUSE - NEXT 18
And as the door swings open again, it's the same trio. We're
in a different home this time, Norton surreptitiously tucking
a set of lock picks into his coat pocket.
SYREN
I think it's safe to assume that no
one is home, then, Norton.
DANYAEL
Alright, then. Here is where the
investigation begins.
He steps gingerly over the threshold, being sure not to
disturb anything, and is followed by Syren and Naomi.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Exactly where in the household did
you hear the disturbance, Miss
Vyra?
NAOMI
Upstairs, I think. Opposite my
master bedroom.
Danyael looks towards the staircase, and with a nod of his
head to the others starts to make his way up, into:
19 INT. TOWN HOUSE - BEDROOM - NEXT 19
Carefully nudging the door open, Norton has his oversized
magnifying glass in hand as he examines the door handle.
NAOMI
(whispers; to Syren)
What is he doing?
SYREN
I imagine he's checking for
fingerprints, given that we haven't
entered the room yet.
DANYAEL
Nothing. Whoever lives here is
either studiously clean or a very
competent criminal.
He pushes the door wide open - and a BODY lies face down on
the floor in the middle of the room, surrounded by a pool of
BLOOD.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Ah! We arrive at our grisly
conclusion at last. Syren, be a
gentleman and contact Lestrade at
the station, would you? I think
I'll be safe to gather any evidence
I need in the time it takes him to
arrive.
Syren nods, making her exit as Danyael steps into the bedroom
with wide, broad strides.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Come in, Miss Vyra. There is
nothing to fear from a dead man.
Naomi doesn't look so confident, but steps bravely inside as
Norton crouches by the body. It's a tall, lean man with long
black hair.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Did you ever have much contact with
your neighbours, Miss Vyra?
NAOMI
None, sir. I'm still quite new to
this part of town, I only moved
here a few weeks ago. I only ever
heard these two fighting.
Danyael rises, turning his lens on everything in the room -
the bedclothes, the walls, the dressing table - before coming
to a stop on a row of picture frames, all of which are empty.
DANYAEL
Hmm. Curious.
NAOMI
What is?
DANYAEL
Why would anyone seek to hang empty
picture frames on their wall, would
you say?
NAOMI
Perhaps they were just seeing where
they should go?
Danyael studies the frames carefully.
DANYAEL
No, these have been tampered with.
Somebody has removed the contents.
NAOMI
But why would anyone do that?
DANYAEL
I think we can deduce that this was
a crime of passion, Miss Vyra, and
that these frames once housed
pictorial evidence of our victim's
rival in love.
Danyael heads back over to the body, examining his head and
finding a bloody wound on the back of his scalp.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
This poor fellow was struck down by
another man of about the same
height and build, given the
positioning and depth of this blow.
Almost certainly from behind, and
with a heavy, blunt instrument.
Danyael produces a pair of tweezers from his pocket, deftly
pulling something from the wound and holding it up to his
magnifying glass.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
A wooden item, perhaps a cricket
bat or something similar.
He stands, hand on his chin in contemplation.
NAOMI
So... another man entered the house
and killed him? Is that what I
heard?
DANYAEL
Elementary, my dear girl. You will
rarely find a more powerful motive
for crime than that of love.
Danyael crouches by the body again, preparing to turn him
over.
NAOMI
Shouldn't we wait for the police to
arrive first?
DANYAEL
If I waited for the police in the
normal course of my investigations,
then I would be forced to learn the
art of patience.
He rolls the body over, the man falling limply spread-eagled
as his hair falls from his face.
Naomi GASPS and Danyael also reacts - it's Diego!
Danyael turns to Naomi, registering the shock in her
expression.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Have you seen this man before?
NAOMI
Why, yes sir, that's Mr. Diego. I
never even realised he was my
neighbour! He's always seen about
the town with Lady McFadden, the
two are quite the celebrity couple
round here!
Danyael reacts at the name 'Lady McFadden,' an awful
realisation starting to down on him. He stands.
DANYAEL
Then it's clear that whoever did
this not only knew of our victim,
and thus his lady wife, but also
the best way to surprise and kill
him without leaving barely a scrap
of evidence behind. Almost as if...
Danyael reaches into his pocket for something - and a pair of
BLOOD-STAINED GLOVES drop out and land on the floor!
DANYAEL (cont'd)
... as if it was someone who knew
exactly how to commit the perfect
murder...
Danyael looks up and meets Naomi's eyes, Naomi starting to
back away from him in terror.
NAOMI
You... it was you!
DANYAEL
Now wait just a minute, this can't
possibly be-
NAOMI
(shrieks)
Help! Police! Murder!
She turns and flees, barrelling out of the house as fast as
she can and hollering for help all the way.
Danyael turns back to the murder scene - the body, the bloody
gloves and the evidence all starting to point his way.
DANYAEL
But... I can't have... why would
I... I'd never...
The shrill sound of POLICE WHISTLES can be heard outside, and
Danyael realises he's in deep trouble now. He looks back to
the body desperately.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Come on, Norton, think. How could
you have killed this man and not
even remembered it? It's simply not
logical, unless... unless...
He hears FOOTSTEPS clattering back up the stairs, and turns
to the doorway as Naomi returns, this time flanked by several
POLICEMEN.
NAOMI
(points)
There! He's the one! That's the one
what done it!
POLICEMAN
Alright, Mr. Norton, I'm going to
have to ask you to accompany us
down to the station.
Danyael looks back to the body, then at the constables, and
suddenly a look of relief washes over him.
DANYAEL
Oh, I get it now...
The constables approach to cuff him as we PUSH IN on Naomi,
still staring at Danyael as we MATCH CUT to:
20 INT. SOUND STAGE - NIGHT 20
Naomi's back in her musical garb, her face now wearing a big
old smile as she's joined by a line of showgirls, high
kicking their way through another razzle-dazzle routine.
Facing her is Danyael, SNAPPING his fingers to the beat as a
line of similarly-tailored guys behind him do the same.
Syren is now up with the band, scatting to the music and
leading the band like she was made to do it.
As the two lines of dancers gradually close in one each
other, the jazzy music breaks into another big band freak out
as everyone splits into couples, Danyael and Naomi finding
each other as couples swirl all around them.
They're having the time of their lives, everybody whooping
and cheering as the band rise from their seats, pushing the
music higher as the whole stage is filled with movement.
In the midst of it all, we focus in on Danyael and Naomi,
their high-energy dancing slowing to a gentler, almost tender
slow step, holding one another tightly.
The lights all around them start to dim, a single spotlight
picking them out as the swing music fades out, replaced by a
soft, crooning violin melody.
NAOMI
Danyael?
DANYAEL
Yes?
NAOMI
Can I ask you something?
DANYAEL
Anything, sweetheart. You know
that.
NAOMI
Good. It's something that's been on
my mind for a while, you see, and
I... well... oh, shoot.
She GRABS him and pulls him in for a KISS, the music SWELLING
around them - this is the big moment, the climax to the show
as our young lovers get together at last:
And Naomi suddenly breaks the kiss. She blinks, looking
around, seemingly bewildered all of a sudden. Everything else
carries on - the music, the dancing couples, even Danyael's
goofy grin, but now Naomi realises something's up.
NAOMI (cont'd)
What's... what's going on?
She starts to become more agitated, looking back at Danyael
for an answer as we cut to:
21 EXT. FORT - NIGHT 21
Push in on a pile of rubble, SMOKE drifting across the scene.
FIRES burn all around - the fortress has been razed to the
ground, and BODIES litter the ruins.
The rubble suddenly MOVES, as though someone beneath is
trying to push their way out - and moments later Diego does
just that, fighting his way free with a cry of exertion.
Staggering to his feet, he's covered in cuts and wounds, his
uniform tattered and torn. Scanning the aftermath all around,
his heart sinks - nothing moves.
Plenty of Mexican soldiers have fallen, but there isn't a
single member of Diego's garrison left either.
He wades through the wreckage, a little shellshocked,
desperately looking for any sign of life.
DIEGO
No... no... this isn't how it was
supposed to go...
He passes the youthful soldier from earlier, a BAYONET
protruding from his chest.
DIEGO (cont'd)
There's no way... no way I should
still be here...
His eyes fall on the sight he feared the most - Lt. McFadden,
face down on the ground with several Mexican soldiers dead
around her.
Diego races forward, stumbling over the debris in his haste
and skidding to her side in a cloud of dust.
DIEGO (cont'd)
Please... no...
He turns her over - but she's long gone. A thin sliver of
blood runs from her lips, her skin pale and lifeless. Diego
cradles her, a TEAR rolling down his cheek.
DIEGO (cont'd)
Why? Why you... and not me?
He suddenly throws his head back and ROARS:
DIEGO (cont'd)
Why not me?
His head drops as he starts to SOB, overcome with emotion at
last, pulling McFadden's limp body to him as he sinks to the
floor.
DIEGO (cont'd)
This isn't what I wanted... this
isn't how it was meant to be...
Diego's body shudders with sobs for a few moments, until he
slowly lifts his head:
And a DOOR stands in the middle of the fortress grounds. It's
a heavy oak door, standing all alone, and most certainly
wasn't there a second ago. Diego stares at the door,
dumbfounded, before we cut back to:
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